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It rained today. Great drops poured from a gray sky.
Without warning, it stopped. The sun broke through the clouds and shone as brightly as if the rain had never come.
However, it wasn’t long until the rain returned. This pattern continued throughout the entire day. At one point the rain poured down in bright daylight from a cloud that just couldn’t cover the sun.
Rain.
Sun.
Rain
Sun.
Rain-sun.
It was a confusing jumble of weather that refused to make up its mind.
Today was a sad day at our house. Bob, the biggest and best of Newt’s pet stick bugs, died. She had been my girl’s favorite: the one she carried around on her arm, read to and watched movies with.
I know that Bob was only an insect, but she was Newt’s insect and she was loved.
We buried her under the lilac tree between cloud bursts. Newt cried for Bob. I cried for Newt.
I tried to speak comforting words to my little girl as we worked together to find a suitable rock to mark the tiny grave.
“You loved her so much, sweetie. And you took really good care of her.”
Great tears rolled down both of our cheeks.
“Mom, stick bugs are easy. You hardly have to do anything.”
At that point the ridiculousness of our bug funeral set in and the laughter came. We wrapped our arms around one another and giggled through our tears.
Laughter.
Tears.
Laughter.
Tears.
Laughter-tears.
We returned to the house just as the rain began to fall again.
On the way to the kitchen for a snack, we passed the cage that holds Bob’s sisters, also all named Bob.
“Bob is dead”, I said. “Long live Bob.”
Yesterday’s post was brought to you by the letters P, M and S.
Thank you, that is all.
Oregon is beautiful. The tulips are blooming. Blah. Blah. Blah.
What I really want to rant about are the three phone calls I made today. Warning, they are extremely frustrating. Feel free to skip over the text and just look at the pretty pictures.
Call #1
Heidi: Hi, this is Heidi. I got a rock chip in my windshield this weekend and it has turned into a huge crack. I just wanted to verify my deductible for glass breakage.
Insurance Lady: I can check on that for you. Hmmm… yes, I see it here. Your deductible is $500.
Heidi: $500? For glass breakage? Not $100?
Insurance Lady: Yes ma’am.
Heidi: Really?
Insurance Lady: Uh-huh. Is there anything else I can do for you today?
Heidi: No. Thank you.
Insurance Lady: You have a nice day now.
Heidi: Ok.
Goodbye $280 for a new windshield.
Call #2
Heidi: I just wanted to see if Newt’s prescription is ready.
Pharmacy Lady: Let me check. Yes, it’s ready.
Heidi: Can you tell me how much that will be?
Pharmacy Lady: Looks like it will be $400.
Heidi: !
Pharmacy Lady: Wait – you had a coupon from the dermatologist. It will be…$375.
Heidi: For eczema ointment? Wow.
Pharmacy Lady: Oh, I’m sorry. It looks like this was not run through your insurance correctly. Do you mind holding?
Heidi: [relief] No. Not at all.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
Pharmacy Lady: Thank you for holding. I ran that through your insurance. And then I took off the $25 for your coupon.
Heidi: Great. How much do I owe?
Pharmacy Lady: $340.
Heidi: Um, nevermind.
Heidi is calling the dermatologist back for an alternate prescription. Tomorrow.
Call #3
BlueCross Man: BlueCross of Maryland. How can I help you?
Heidi: Hi. I just got a bill from a doctor. Services were rendered three years ago. Why it took him that long to send it, I’ll never understand, but I digress. It appears that this was never billed to our insurance – though the doctor insists – emphatically! – that it was. He may have also accused me of looking for “charity” when I asked him to verify that the bill was submitted to you for payment, but that is not your concern is it?
Anyway, we are no longer insured by you, but could you look this up for me anyway?
BlueCross Man: Sure. What is your ID number?
Heidi: No idea. This was from three years ago, and I have also moved 3000 miles in that time. The ID card is long gone. Can I give you my Social Security number?
BlueCross Man: Sure. … That didn’t work. How about your husband’s? … Nothing. Old address? … Husband’s employer at the time? … You no longer seem to be in our system. Unless you can come up with an ID number, I’m afraid we can’t help you. Here’s an idea. Maybe you could call the Provider and ask him to look up the ID number on your chart. I’m sure he’d be happy to help.
Heidi: Sigh.
Heidi has decided not to make any more phone calls. Ever.
Ooh, look. Pretty.
The newest members of Newt’s menagerie:
Three new Indian Walking Stick Bugs have just joined our family: Bobby, Bob and George.
We all worked together to build the cage for them (pictured above). W and Newt built. Newt and I sanded and painted.
The bugs seem quite happy here. At least, I think they are happy. How can I tell really? They’re bugs…
- wood
- screws
- spackle
- paint
- hinges
- window screening
- staples
- felt
- blackberry brambles
I can’t wait to show you the results of our little family project.
Anyone care to guess what we’ve been making?
